Controllably wound cable takeup reel

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to spool-type reel apparatuses for the controlled storage, unwinding, and rewinding of elongate flexible cable members, such as electrical conductor conduits and fluids conducting hoses, upon a substantially cylindrical contour of a rotatable spool that is dynamically maintained under constant torque conditions by a braking means. In particular, this invention provides a spool-type reel apparatus wherein one or more elongate flexible cable members are each helically maintained along the spool elongate cylindrical contour during all stages of winding and unwinding, said helically controlled storage being afforded by a novel cable-guide structure adapted to be controllably reciprocated in the horizontal direction with a special shroudable rotatable lead screw unit; sophisticated embodiments of this invention include a smoothing roller component to ensure closely spaced kink-free positioning of the cable helices and include a hydraulic drive system to dynamically maintain the spool under constant torque conditions.

United States Patent 3,148,261 9/1964 Schlenz 242/54X [72] lnventor Bernhardt Stahmer 1509 Chicago St., Omaha, Nebr. 68102 3,395,893 8/ 1968 Kumpf 242/158X App! 764883 Primary ExaminerStanley N. Gilreath [22] Flled Assistant Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder [45] Patented 191:1 Attorney-George R. Nimmer [54] CONTROLLABLY WOUND CABLE TAKEUP REEL 8 F 9 chums Drawing ABSTRACT: This invention relates to spool-type reel ap- U.S. aratu e for the controlled storage unwinding and rewindv 242/86, 242/158-2 ing of elongate flexible cable members, such as electrical con- Ilat. Clductor conduits and fluids conducting hoses upon a substan- I Search 54, cylindrical contour of a rotatable spool that is dynaml- 86-5, 86-61, 158, cally maintained under constant torque conditions by a brak- 158-4, 36-5] ing means. In particular, this invention provides a spool-type reel apparatus wherein one or more elongate flexible cable [56] References C'ted members are each helically maintained along the spool elon- UNITED STATES PATENTS gate cylindrical contour during all stages of winding and un- 3,250,49l 5/1966 Stalker 242/86.5l winding, said helically controlled storage being afiorded by a 2,343,461 3/ 1944 Knaus et al.. 242/45 novel cable-guide structure adapted to be controllably 2,605,055 7/1952 Scott et al.... 242/45 reciprocated in the horizontal direction with a special 2,641,413 6/1953 Brustle 242/54 shroudable rotatable lead screw unit; sophisticated embodi- 2,668,673 2/ 1954 Clotworthy, Jr 242/54 ments of this invention include a smoothing roller component 2,757,883 8/1956 Schlang et al 242/1 58.2 to ensure closely spaced kink-free positioning of the cable he- 3,025,009 3/1962" Aschinger 242/54 lices and include a hydraulic drive system to dynamically 3,1 18,627 111964 Nelson et a1. 242/54X maintain the spool under constant torque conditions.

I2 68. 8 so PATENTED FEB 1 e um SHEET 2 BF 7 F/G, m

INVENTOR. BERNHARDT STAHMER BY ATTORNEY PATENIEU FEB16I97I SHEET 3 OF 7' INVENTOR. BERNHARDT STAHMER ATTORNEY F/GZ PATENTEU FEB 1 51971 SHEET u UF 7 INVNTOR. BERN HARDT STAHMER ATTORNEY PATENTED FEBI I H 3563mm sum 6 OF 7 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. BERN HARDT STAHMER ATTORNEY PATENTEDFEBIBBH 3563481 SHEET 7 UF 7 INVENTOR.

BERNHARDT STAHMER ATTORNEY CONTROLLABLY WOUND CABLE TAKEUP REEL In supplying mobile equipment from a static point with output power e.g. electrical connections, gas, water, oil supplied, etc. a flexible cable member may be employed which is stored upon a rotatable spool, said flexible cable member being payed off or taken up tangentially upon the spool as the powered mobile equipment increases or decreases its distance from the spool-type reel apparatus. The rotatable spool is dynamically maintained under constant torque conditions as the elongate flexible cable member is payed out, and thus the said elongate cable for the output power will automatically retract and rewind upon the constant torque rotatable spool as the powered mobile equipment moves toward the cable takeup reel. In such an arrangement, and as is well known in the prior art, there is an input power cable leading from some original power source (such as a public utility or from a pressurized hydraulic source) to the spool, and because of the revolvable nature of the retractable spool, there is necessarily some type of revolvable joint means positioned between the input and output power cables. In the case of fluid power e.g. compressed air, hydraulic fluids, etc. the revolvable joint means may be a swivel or related. device, sometimes referred to as a fluid slip ring. In the case of electrical power, a combination of slip rings and brushes between the input and output cables serve as the revolvable joint means, the number of brushes and slip rings being conventionally equal to the number of independent electrically conductive strands contained within the similarly conductive input and output power cables. v

With the spool-type reel apparatuses of the prior art, the elongate flexible output power cable tends to be wrapped randomly upon the spool as the cable is taken up, such random wrapping oftentimes resulting in kinked or snarled cable and invariably resulting in successive layers of cable convolutions disposed at increasing radial distances from the spool elongate axis. Since the spool at its cylindrical contour is dynamically maintained under constant torque conditions for automatic retractability, such radially disposed convolutions of cable upon cable will effectively change the spool radius at the tangent point of the cable being payed out such that the spools constant torque is exceeded by forces exerted by the powered mobile equipment upon the cable tangential portion; consequently, cable is apt to be payed out too rapidly, with the result that cable is too loosely wound upon the spool, and accompanied by kinking or snarling. Moreover, in the case of electrical conductor-type cables with necessarily electrically insulative coverings, such radially disposed convolutions of cable upon cable are apt to overheat, thereby reducing the deliverable amperage of the output cable.

It is accordingly the general object of the present invention to provide a controllably wound spool-type reel apparatus wherein one or more elongate flexible cable members, whether they be electrical powerconduits or fluid-carrying hoses, are each wrapped in helical form directly upon the spool cylindrical outward contour ancillary to the taking-up and paying-out of the elongate flexible member by the retractable reel.

It is a specific object of the present invention to provide a controllably wound cable takeup reel wherein an elongate flexible cable member is wrapped kink-free and without snarling directly upon the spool cylindrical outward contour as the elongate flexible cable is being taken up by the retractable reel.

It is another object to provide a controllably wound takeup reel for flexible electrical conductor cables wherein the retractable spool portion is adapted to function as an effective heat sink whereby the heat developed within the cable is effectively dissipated and the amperage of the cable is maintained substantially constant.

It is a further object to provide a controllably wound takeup reel for flexible cable wherein the cable is wrapped at a constant distance from the spool axis of rotation and as a single kink-free helical layer upon the spool cylindrical outward contour, and with the several helices being maintained in close side-by-side abutment.

It is another object to provide a novel cable guide for the tangentially payed-out or taken-out portions of the elongate flexible cable, said cable guide being also adapted to horizontally reciprocate in substantial vertical alignment with the terminal cable helix immediately adjacent .to the cable tangential portion whereby the payed-out or taken-up portions of the cable are maintained tangential to the spool cylindrical surface.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a horizontally reciprocatable cable guide that functions in reliable synchronization with the said terminal cable helix irrespective of the spool position of each and wherein the cable guide synchronized motion with respect to the terminal cable helix is relatively independent of dirt, grime, water, and other potentially fouling ambient conditions.

It is another object to provide a controllably wound takeup reel wherein the spool dynamic torque conditions are established with a novel, eflicient, and reliable fluid motor system. i

It is a further object to provide a controllably wound takeup reel that is reliable in operation over a long period of time, that is of low maintenance cost, and that is adapted to operate at relatively low spool rotational speeds whereby strain and wear upon the flexible cable element is minimized.

It is yet another object to provide a cable takeup reel wherein two or more elongate flexible cables may be independently controllably helically wound at independent longitudinal positions along the same retractable spool and directly upon the cylindrical contour thereof, wherein each independent flexible cable might carry a different type of power, and wherein the several independent cables might be payed out or taken up in concert from the same powered mobile equipment.

With the above and other objects and advantagesin view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the novel form, combination, and arrangement of structural elements as hereinafter more fully described, and particularly as pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein like numbers refer to like parts in the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the controllably wound cable takeup reel apparatus of the present invention comprising an elongate retractable spool portion and showing in particular the forward elongate side of the apparatus including said elongate spool portion.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the controllably wound cable takeup reel apparatus of FIG. 1 showing in particular'the rearward elongate side thereof and a tandem of electric motors for the spool dynamic braking means.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and along the longitudinal central axis of the retractable spool component thereof.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 through the cable guide and lead screw portions of the cable takeup reel apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view taken in a directio similar to that of FIG. 1 showing a modified form of the takeup reel apparatus adapted to helically store and take up three independent cables at three separate elongate portions of the retractable spool cylindrical contour.

FIG. 5 is a rearward elevational view showing a hydraulic motor type alternate means for dynamically maintaining the retractable spool portion under constant torque conditions.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view describing the function of the hydraulic motor constant torque brake means of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevational view similar to that of FIG. 3 showing an alternate form of the rollable cable guide portion.

The basic workings of the controllably wound cable takeup reel apparatus of the present invention are depicted in FIGS. 1, 1A, 2 and 3 of the drawing. The cable takeup reel apparatus comprises: an elongate frame member 10 including a substantially horizontal elongate track means 15; an elongate spool 20 revolvable about its elongate substantially horizontal axis 21 and rotatably attached to frame member 10, said spool 20 having an elongate cylindrical outward contour 22 surrounding axis 21; an elongate flexible cable member 30 having a trailing portion 31 attached to revolvable joint means R," a leading portion 33 extending tangentially downwardly from spool cylindrical contour 22, and an intermediate portion 32 helically disposed along elongate cylindrical contour 22; a substantially horizontal elongate lead screw 40 revolvably attached to frame member and disposed forwardly of and in substantial parallelism with spool axis 21, said lead screw 40 preferably being provided with an elongate novel shroud 50; a cable guide 60 accommodating vertically therealong the cable leading portion 33, rollably associated along the horizontal track means 15, and threadedly attached to lead screw 40; brake means dynamically providing constant torque upon the spool cylindrical contour 22; and power transmission means causing controlled rotation between spool 20 and lead screw 40 whereby each rotation of spool 20 causes cable guide 60 to move a horizontal distance equal to the helical width or pitch of the cable intermediate portion 32.

Elongate frame member 10 is adapted to stably rest upon the earth or another substantially horizontal substrate and herein is in the form of a framework of interconnected channel irons whereby frame member 10 comprises a pair of ends 11 and 12 transverse to spool axis 21, including first end 11 and second end 12, and also comprises a pair of substantially parallel horizontal elongate sides 13 and 14, including forward side 13 and rearward side 14. Frame forward side 13 includes a horizontal track means 15 adapted to rollably support cable guide 60 along the track means horizontal length and also substantially parallel to spool elongate axis 21, the elongate track means extending in horizontal length at least between the first and second rimmed ends 23 and 24 of spool cylindrical contour 22. Elongate track means 15 preferably takes the duallevel form illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 whereby vertically elongate cable guide 60 is stably uprightly rollably supported by the track means. The dual-level track means comprises a pair of elongate channel irons 16 and 17 rigidly spaced apart in substantial parallelism by forward extensions of frame transverse ends 11 and 12. The track upper level comprises a pair of horizontal elongate rails 18 downwardly converging toward each other from members 16 and 17 whereby an elongate spatial gap exists between coelevation rails 18, and the lower level comprises a pair of horizontal elongate rails 19 upwardly converging toward each other from members 16 and 17 whereby a similar elongate spatial gap exists between coelevation rails 19. Both track levels 18 and 19 are substantially parallel to spool axis 21. to the spool cylindrical outward contour 22, and to lead screw 40.

Elongate spool 20, which revolves about its elongate horizontal axis 21 and which is revolvably associated with frame 10, comprises a cylindrical outward contour 22 surrounding axis 21. The frame member first and second transverse ends 11 and 12 are disposed beyond the elongate confines of the spool cylindrical outward contour 22; specifically, spool has a rimmed first transverse end 23 disposed between frame ends 11 and 12 nearer to 11 and providing the first end of spool cylindrical contour 22, and spool 20 also has a rimmed second transverse end 24 disposed between frame ends 11 and 12 nearer to 12 and providing the second end of spool contour 22. While spool cylindrical contour 22 might be provided skeletally with a plurality of parallel elongate bars coparallel to spool axis 21 and attached between rims 23 and 24, a tubular cylindrical metallic band 25 surrounding axis 21 and integrally attached to metallic rims 23 and 24 is preferred. The use of metallic elements 23-25, together with internal metallic bracing bars 26 integrally connected between elements 23--2S and spool elongate shaft 27 provides a heat sink type spool 20 whereby the heat generated within a single helical layer 32 ofelectrica] conductor type cable might be readily dissipated through spool 20.

Spool 20 preferably comprises an elongate shaft portion 27 disposed along axis 21, shaft 27 having a first end 27A disposed between spool first end 23 and frame first end 11 and revolvably attached to frame first end 11, spool 27 also having a second end 2713 disposed between spool second end 24 and frame second end 12 and revolvably attached to frame second end 12. Spool tubular band 25 and rims 23-24, together with bracing 26, are directly revolvable with shaft 27 about spool axis 21 and with respect to frame ends 11 and 12. Shaft first end 27A includes an elongate bore 28 along axis 21 to and a lateral slot 29 in the shaft communicating with bore 28 whereby cable trailing end 31 might extend radially from slot 29 to an opening 25A in tubular band 25. Shaft first end 27A includes the revolvable joint means" between an input power cable 300 and the output power cable 30. In the drawing wherein the output power cable 30 comprises three independent electrical conductors, the revolvable joint means R" comprises three slip rings electrically connected via brushes to the respective three conductors of input power cable 300, the respective three conductors of output power cable 30 being connected to the three respective slip rings. There is a housing H for revolvable joint means R" including a lateral opening for input cable 300 There is an elongate substantially horizontal threaded lead screw 40 that is disposed in substantial parallelism with and positioned forwardly and below the spool axis of rotation 21. Elongate lead screw 40 is revolvably attached to frame member 10, and herein, lead screw first end 41 is journaled by frame member first end 11 while lead screw second end 42 is journaled within frame member second end 12.

A representative form of the horizontally rollable cable guide component is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. Cable guide comprises a vertically elongate frame 61 disposed uprightly within the elongate spatial gap of track means 15, said frame 61 having an upper end 62 disposed above track upper level 18 and also above lead screw 40 and its shroud 50 and also having a frame lower end 63 disposed below track lower level 19. Upright frame 61 includes a vertical opening 64 therethrough extending between ends 62 and 63 and of sufficient cross-sectional size to accommodate vertically therealong cable-leading portion 33, said opening 64 being substantially vertically tangent with respect to spool cylindrical contour 22. The upright frame member 61 includes along vertical opening 64 opposed pairs of horizontal guide rollers to guide cable-leading portion 33 along said vertical opening 64. At least one said pair takes the form of upper guide rollers 65 revolvably attached to frame member 61 above the track means 15 and also above lead screw 40 and its elongate shroud 50. At least another one said pair takes the form of lower guide rollers 66 revolvably attached to frame member 61 below track means 15, said lower guide rollers 66 having their axes of rotation normal to the axes of upper rollers 65 and also normal to spool axis 21; thus, as is indicated in H0. 1, plural pairs oflower guide rollers 66 on cable guide 60 can ultimately direct cable-leading portion 33 selectively toward either the first or second end of frame member 10. Cable guide 60 also comprises one or more track rollers rollably associated along track means 15. For the preferred dual-level track means of FIGS. 1 and 3, cable guide 60 comprises a pair of upper track rollers 68 diverging upwardly from frame 61 and rollably engaged along track upper level 18 and further comprises a pair of lower track rollers 69 diverging downwardly from frame 61 and rollably engaged along track lower level 19. Thus, the combination of the dual-level track means 18-19 together with the upper and lower track rollers 68-69 stably uprightly support cable guide 60; cable guide 60 is adapted to rollably reciprocate horizontally along the entire track means 15 such that vertical opening 64 is positionable at all stations between the two elongate limits 23 and 24 of spool cylindrical portion 22.

Cable guide 60 is threadedly attached to lead screw 40 whereby as lead screw 40 is made to rotate about its longitudinal axis, cable guide 60 is made to move along the spool axis 21. Herein, cable guide 60 includes an integral connectorblock portion 67 having a threaded horizontal bore therethrough whereby block 67 surrounds and is threadedly engaged with lead screw 40. Threaded connector-block 67 of cable guide 60 for lead screw 40 is mounted upon a relatively thin upright member 67A, said relatively thin upright member 67A being integrally connected to frame 61 and disposed rearwardly offset therefrom. Connector-block 67 is of comparatively short elongate length, the number of threads along lead screw 40 being manyfold that of connector-block 67.

Cable guide 60 also desirably includes a cylindrical smoothing roller 71 extending integrally upwardly and rearwardly from the upper portion of frame 61. The axis of rotation of smoothing roller 71 is disposed at a 45 angle with respect to the vertical axis 64 of frame 61 and along a diameter of spool (radial to axis 21), with the rearward circular free end of smoothing roller 71 being disposed approximately 1 inch radially outwardly of spool cylindrical contour 22. A cylindrical side of smoothing roller 71 is in direct rollable contact with the terminal helix 32A of cable intermediate portion 32 and exerts pressure upon terminal helix 32A whereby terminal helix 32A and remaining helices of cable intermediate portion 32 tend to be maintained at low pitch i.e. in close sideby-side abutment along spool cylindrical contour 22. Smoothing roller 71 is, of course, longitudinally offset from frame opening 64 toward spool first end 23 for a distance equal to the helical pitch of cable intermediate portion 32, said helical pitch in the case of circular cross section cables being substantially equal to the cable diameter.

Elongate lead screw 40 is desirably provided with a novel elongate shroud 50 to protect the lead screw threads from a potentially fouling environment such as dirt, grime, noxious dusts, etc. Elongate shroud 50 comprises an elongate tubular boxlike portion 51 that surrounds the upper, the forward, and the rearward elongate sides of lead screw 40 and also the upper, the forward, and the rearward .sides of threaded connector-block 67. The bottom elongate side of box portion 51 is provided with an elongate horizontal slot 52 disposed below threaded connector-block 67 at common elevation with upright support 67A to permit upright support 67A ro reciprocate horizontally along said lower elongate slot 52. Attached to box portion 51 in cantilever fashion and converging toward each other across slotted portion 52 is a pair of flexible elongate horizontal sheet members 53, said sheet members 53 abutting and flexing against opposite sides of upright support 67A to effectively close slot 52. Thus, elongate box portion 51 together with converging elongate sheets 53 provide an elongate shroud 50 that completely surrounds and protects lead screw 40 and connector-block 67 without impeding the reciprocatability of cable guide 60 along track means 15.

The alternate carrier member of FIG. 7 is in all respects identical to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 except that the upper and lower portions of upright frame 61 are connected by an intervening swivel joint 70; thus, by virtue of swivel 70, cableleading portion 33 might be pulled freely by the mobile powered equipment in several directions with respect to the frame 61 vertical axis including forwardly from and in both directions parallel to spool cylindrical contour 22.

There are power transmission means actuatably connected between spool 20 and lead screw 40 to cause rotation of lead screw 40 about its elongate axis as spool 20 rotates about its elongate axis 21, each revolution of spool 20 causing a movement of cable guide 60 through its threaded connector-block 67 for a horizontal distance equal to each helix i.e. the pitch" of cable intermediate portion 32. For example, second end 278 of spool shaft 27 might carry a sprocket 72 positioned between spool rim 24 and frame second end 12, while second end 42 of lead screw 40 might carry a smaller diameter sprocket 73, and a multilink chain 74 actuatably surrounds sprockets 72 and 73. The diameter ratios of sprockets 72 and 73 together with the threaded pitch of threaded lead screw 41), are so empirically selected that each revolution of spool 20 causes the required horizontal movement of cable guide 60.

For example, for a circular cable 31) having a cable diameter of 2 inches (which is substantially equal to the helical pitch of cable intermediate portion 32), for a lead screw 40 having an effective helical pitch of one-half helical threads per inch, the diameter ratio of sprocket 72 to sprocket 73 should be approximately 4.

There are brake means providing constant torque upon the spool cylindrical contour 22 and constant tension upon the cable tangential leading portion 33, both in the takeup or windup direction. The brake means might, for example, take the form illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 2, comprising two tandemconnected electrical motors 75, each motor being of the 100 percent stall constant torque variety and delivering about 15 foot-pounds torque. Tandem motors shaft 76 carries a sprocket 77, while spool shaft 27 carries a second sprocket 78 adjacent to-sprocket 72, and multilink chain 79 actuatably surrounds sprockets 77 and 78 whereby power means drives spool 20 at a constant number of revolutions per minute about its elongate axis 21. The brake means includes an electrically released spring set holding brake component, which is well known in the prior art; thepurpose of the holding brake component is to prevent the weight of cable leading portion 33 from revolving spool 20 during shutdown intervals of the apparatus.

Operation of the cable takeup reel embodiment of FIGS. 1- -3 can thus be summarized as follows and as has already been alluded to in the structural description. Power means 75 is actuated whereby spool 20 and lead screw 40 are each caused to rotate at a constant number of revolutions per minute about their elongate axes. For example, in a typical situation wherein: the diameter of spool cylindrical portion 22 is 84 inches, spool 20 rotates at 1.5 rpm, the diameter of circular cable 30 and also the helical pitch of cable intermediate portion 32 is about 2 inches, lead screw 40 rotates at 4 revolutions per spool revolution, and the effective thread pitch on lead screw 40 is one-half threads per inch, cable guide 60 moves a horizontal distance of 2 inches (the pitch of cable helical por tion) for every revolution of spool 20. Smoothing roller component 70 of cable guide 60 remains in direct contact against the terminal helix 32A and tends to maintain all helices of cable intermediate portion in closely spaced side-by-side abutment commencing at rimmed first end 23. As cable is withdrawn tangentially downwardly from spool cylindrical contour 22 in the form of cable-leading portion 33 passing vertically downwardly through upright bore 64 of cable guide 60, cable guide 61) moves incrementally toward the cylindrical contour first end 23 whereupon cable trailing portion 31 is reached and no further cable payoff is possible. However, each time the mobile equipment power consumer moves closer toward the reel apparatus, the constant torque of spool 20 retracts cable 30 onto cylindrical contour 22 as cable helical intermediate portion 32, accompanied by incremental movement of cable guide 60 toward cylindrical contour second end 24, whereupon spool 20 might be fully loaded with the necessary single layer of helical cable.

The alternate embodiment cable takeup reel of FIG. 4 is based upon the same structure of the FIGS. 13 basic embodiment except that a plurality of cables are simultaneously taken up and payed off from a plurality of distinct longitudinal positions along spool cylindrical contour 22. For example, there are in the FIG. 41 embodiment three independent cables 30, 80 and 85, each retractably stored in helical fashion upon elongate cylindrical contour 22. Cable 30 and the cable guide 60 therefor, as they are embodied into the cable takeup reel are identical to the FlGS. l3 basic embodiment except that cable intermediate helical portion occupies at most one third the elongate cylindrical contour 2:2 commencing at rimmed first end 23 and at drum band opening 25A. Cable 80 requires its own cable guide 60 for the leading portion 33 of cable 81), the intermediate helical portion 82 occupying a portion of but not more than the middle one-third length of cylindrical contour 22. There is a separate drum band opening for the trailing portion of second cable 80, said opening being spaced about one-third the elongate distance of cylindrical contour 22 commencing from rimmed first end 23; the trailing end of second cable 80 is connected to revolvable joint means R" analogous to first cable 30. Third cable 85 similarly requires its own cable guide 60 for the tangential leading portion 88 of cable 85, the intermediate helical portion 87 of cable 85 occupying a portion but not more than the last one-third length of cylindrical contour 22 commencing at second rimmed end 24. There is a separate drum band opening for the trailing portion of third cable 85, said opening being spaced about two-thirds the elongate distance of contour 22 commencing from rimmed first end 23; the trailing end of third cable 85 is connected to revolvable joint means R" analogous to first cable 30. Thus with the FlG. 4 alternate embodiment, three separate cables 30, 80, and 85, can be controllable helically taken up or payed out in like degree from a single spool, the three cables supplying selectable types of power to the powered mobile apparatus simultaneously, and accompanied by identical horizontal movement of the three equally-spaced cable guides 60.

The hydraulic motor-type alternate dynamic braking means of FIGS. 5 and 6 comprises an electric motor power source EM" which rotates a shaft 101 of fluid pump PV (having pressure compensator PC) to send oil or other pressurized hydraulic liquid through high-pressure line 102 (having spring-loaded back-pressure valve 103) to cause constant torque in shaft 104 of fluid-actuated motor MF." Hydraulic fluid expended through fluid motor MF is returned to fluid reservoir 106 via return line 107, said line 107 including a conventional oil filtration system 108.

The constant torque of fluid motor shaft 104 is actuatably connected to spool shaft 27 (as by intervening sprockets and chain elements 7779, gear reducer 109, and holding brake 110) to cause constant torque on spool cylindrical contour 22 in the takeup or windup direction with respect to flexible cable 30. When cable leading portion 33 is held in the immobile position, and spool is temporarily nonrotating about axis 21, fluid pump PV dead-heads" against fluid motor MF" for zero fluid volume to maintain shaft 104 stationary and under constant torque. When cable-leading portion 33 is pulled by the mobile powered equipment away from spool 20, fluid motor MF" is caused to rotate in the reverse direction acting as a pump upon return line 107, expending the hydraulic fluid through relief valve 105 into reservoir 106. Holding brake component 110, which is also employed in the FIGS. 1- -3 embodiment for similar purposes, is an electrically released spring-set holding brake, well known in the prior art.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the controllably wound cable takeup reel will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A cable takeup reel adapted to controllably helically wrap flexible cable at constant tension around an elongate spool, said cable takeup reel comprising:

A. An elongate substantially horizontal frame member having a pair of transverse ends, and having a forward elongate side which includes a substantially horizontal track means;

B. An elongate substantially horizontal spool revolvably at tached to the frame member, said elongate spool having an elongate outer contour that is substantially parallel to the track means;

C. At least one elongate flexible cable having a trailing portion attached to the said spool, a cable-leading portion extending tangentially downward from the spool outer contour to the frame member forward side, and a cable intermediate helical portion in direct contact with the spool outer contour;

D. A substantially horizontal elongate lead screw revolvably attached to the frame member forward side;

E. A cable guide rollably associated along the horizontal track means, said cable guide having a vertical opening therethrough to accommodate the cable-leading portion, said cable guide integrally including a connector-block surrounding and threadedly engaged with the lead screw, said connector-block being mounted upon a relatively thin upright member;

F. An elongate shroud for the lead screw to protect the lead screw threads from fouling, said elongate shroud comprising an elongate box portion surrounding the upper, the forward, and the rearward elongate sides of the lead screw and also surrounding the upper, the forward, and the rearward sides of the integral threaded connectorblock, said elongate shroud also comprising a pair of flexible elongate sheet members respectively attached to the forward and rearward elongate sides of the elongate box portion and converging toward each other along the lower elongate side of the lead screw and flexibly abutting against opposite sides of the relatively thin upright support for the threaded connector-block;

G. Brake means acting upon the spool revolvability to dynamically maintain constant tension on the spool outer contour and upon the cable intermediate portion; and

H. Power transmission means actuatably connected between the lead screw and the spool to cause rotation of the lead screw about its horizontal axis as the spindle rotates about its axis.

2. The cable take up reel of claim 1 wherein there is an elongate cylindrical spool comprising an elongate substantially horizontal shaft disposed along the spool longitudinal horizontal axis, said spool shaft being revolvably attached to the frame member whereby said spool shaft is rotatable about the spool longitudinal horizontal axis, said spool shaft having a first end adjacent to the spool first end and having a second end adjacent to the spool second end, said shaft having a bore along the longitudinal axis commencing at the shaft first end and having a lateral slot intersecting said longitudinal bore, said cylindrical spool also comprising a tubular cylindrical band surrounding said elongate shaft and integrally joined thereto providing the cylindrical contour and directly revolvable with said shaft, the said cylindrical band portion at the first and second ends having a pair of outwardly-extending transverse rims and having a band opening to accommodate therethrough the cable trailing portion; wherein there is revolvable joint means actuatably connected to the shaft first end; wherein the flexible cable trailing portion is disposed within the cylindrical band opening and extends therefrom through the shaft lateral opening and along the shaft bore and is actuatably connected to the revolvable joint means, the flexible cable intermediate portion proceeding helically from the band opening toward the spool second end; wherein the brake means is actuatably connected to the elongate shaft portion of the spool member; and wherein the power transmission means is actuatably connected between the elongate shaft portion of the spool member and the lead screw.

3. The cable takeup reel of claim 2 wherein the flexible cable is of constant circular cross-sectional size along the leading and intermediate portions thereof, the cable intermediate portion comprising a plurality of helices in side-by-side abutment along the spool cylindrical band including a terminal helix that is the nearest of said helices to the spool second end and that is immediately adjacent to the cable tangential leading portion; and wherein the rollable cable guide includes a smoothing roller in contact with the terminal helix of the cable intermediate portion and exerting pressure upon said terminal helix toward the spool first end, the axis of said smoothing roller extending upwardly and rearwardly of the rollable cable guide radially with respect to the spool axis whereby the smoothing roller is obliquely disposed above the lead screw.

4. The cable takeup reel of claim 2 wherein the horizontal track means on the frame member forward side comprises an upper level and a lower level, said track upper level comprising a pair of downwardly converging rails separated by an elongate spatial gap and said track lower level comprising a pair of upwardly converging rails separated by a similar elongate spatial gap; and wherein the cable guide is disposed uprightly within the elongate spatial gaps of the horizontal track, said cable guide including diverging upper track rollers rollably engaged along the converging rails of the track upper level and including diverging lower track rollers rollably engaged along the converging rails of the track lower level whereby said cable guide is stably uprightly supported and is adapted to rollably horizontally reciprocate along the said horizontal track means, said cable guide along the upright vertical opening having pairs of opposed guide rollers to guide the cable-leading portion between said pairs of guide rollers, at least one pair of said guide rollers being disposed above the horizontal track means and at least another pair of said guide rollers being disposed below the horizontal track means.

5. The cable takeup reel of claim 2 wherein the spool shaft bore extends for the major length of the shaft toward the second end thereof; wherein the spool shaft is provided with a plurality of lateral slots intersecting the shaft bore, said lateral slots being spaced consecutively along the elongate length of the spool shaft; wherein the spool band is provided with a plurality of openings spaced at substantially equal intervals along the length of the spool cylindrical band commencing at the spool first end; wherein there is a plurality of said elongate flexible cables, the helical intermediate portion for each of said flexible cables occupying a distinct and separate finite length of said spool cylindrical band which length does not exceed the intervals of the spool band openings, and wherein there is a separate rollable cable guide surrounding the leading end of the respective flexible cables, the said rollable cable guides being spaced at intervals substantially equal to that for the spool drum openings. I

6. The cable takeup reel of claim 4 wherein the brake means acting upon the spool and dynamically maintaining constant tension upon its cylindrical contour and upon the cable intermediate portion comprises a pressurized hydraulic liquid driving a constant torque fluid motor, said fluid motor being actuatably connected to the elongate shaft portion of the spool member, and further comprising an electrically released spring-set holding brake component to prevent the weight of the cable-leading portion from rotating the spool during shutdown periods of the cable takeup reel.

7. The cable takeup reel of claim 6 wherein the rollable cable guide upright frame comprises an upper portion and a lower portion attached together by a swivel joint to permit at least 180 rotational movement by the lower portion with respect to the frame upright axis.

8. A cable takeup reel adapted to controllably helically wrap flexible cable at constant tension around an elongate spool, said cable takeup reel comprising:

A. An elongate substantially horizontal frame member having a pair of transverse ends, and having a forward elongate side which includes a substantially horizontal longitudinally extending track means;

B. An elongate substantially horizontal spool revolvably attached to the frame member, said elongate spool having an elongate outer contour that is substantially parallel to the track means;

C. At least one elongate flexible cable having a trailing portion attached to the said spool, a cable-leading portion extending tangentially downward from the spool outer contour to the frame member forward side, and a cable intermediate helical portion in direct contact with the spool outer contour;

D. A cable guide longitudinally associated along the horizontal track means, said cable guide having a vertical opening therethrough to accommodate the cable-leading portion;

E. Power transmission means actuatably connected between an axial elongate shaft for the spool and the cable guide whereby each revolution of the spool causes a horizontal translation of the rollable cable guide along the track means for a distance equal to the width of each helix of the cable intermediate portion; and

F. Brake means acting upon the spool to control the spool revolvability about its elongate central axis to dynamically maintain constant tension on the spool elongate outer contour and upon the cable intermediate portion, said brake means comprising a constant torque fluid motor actuatably connected to the elongate axial shaft portion of the spool member and further comprising an electrically releasable spring-set holding brake component to prevent the weight of the cable leading portion from rotating the spool during shutdown periods of the cable takeup reel.

9. The cable takeup reel of claim 8 wherein the constant torque fluid motor has a revolvable shaft which is actuatably connected to the spool member axial shaft through said electrically releasable spring-set holding brake; and wherein a fluid pump having a pressure compensator is adapted to send high-pressure oil to the said constant torque fluid motor, said fluid pump being in a zero fluid volume dead heading relationship with the constant torque fluid motor during shutdown periods of the cable takeup reel. 

1. A cable takeup reel adapted to controllably helically wrap flexible cable at constant tension around an elongate spool, said cable takeup reel comprising: A. An elongate substantially horizontal frame member having a pair of transverse ends, and having a forward elongate side which includes a substantially horizontal track means; B. An elongate substantially horizontal spool revolvably attached to the frame member, said elongate spool having an elongate outer contour that is substantially parallel to the track means; C. At least one elongate flexible cable having a trailing portion attached to the said spool, a cable-leading portion extending tangentially downward from the spool outer contour to the frame member forward side, and a cable intermediate helical portion in direct contact with the spool outer contour; D. A substantially horizontal elongate lead screw revolvably attached to the frame member forward side; E. A cable guide rollably associated along the horizontal track means, said cable guide having a vertical opening therethrough to accommodate the cable-leading portion, saId cable guide integrally including a connector-block surrounding and threadedly engaged with the lead screw, said connector-block being mounted upon a relatively thin upright member; F. An elongate shroud for the lead screw to protect the lead screw threads from fouling, said elongate shroud comprising an elongate box portion surrounding the upper, the forward, and the rearward elongate sides of the lead screw and also surrounding the upper, the forward, and the rearward sides of the integral threaded connector-block, said elongate shroud also comprising a pair of flexible elongate sheet members respectively attached to the forward and rearward elongate sides of the elongate box portion and converging toward each other along the lower elongate side of the lead screw and flexibly abutting against opposite sides of the relatively thin upright support for the threaded connector-block; G. Brake means acting upon the spool revolvability to dynamically maintain constant tension on the spool outer contour and upon the cable intermediate portion; and H. Power transmission means actuatably connected between the lead screw and the spool to cause rotation of the lead screw about its horizontal axis as the spindle rotates about its axis.
 2. The cable take up reel of claim 1 wherein there is an elongate cylindrical spool comprising an elongate substantially horizontal shaft disposed along the spool longitudinal horizontal axis, said spool shaft being revolvably attached to the frame member whereby said spool shaft is rotatable about the spool longitudinal horizontal axis, said spool shaft having a first end adjacent to the spool first end and having a second end adjacent to the spool second end, said shaft having a bore along the longitudinal axis commencing at the shaft first end and having a lateral slot intersecting said longitudinal bore, said cylindrical spool also comprising a tubular cylindrical band surrounding said elongate shaft and integrally joined thereto providing the cylindrical contour and directly revolvable with said shaft, the said cylindrical band portion at the first and second ends having a pair of outwardly-extending transverse rims and having a band opening to accommodate therethrough the cable trailing portion; wherein there is revolvable joint means actuatably connected to the shaft first end; wherein the flexible cable trailing portion is disposed within the cylindrical band opening and extends therefrom through the shaft lateral opening and along the shaft bore and is actuatably connected to the revolvable joint means, the flexible cable intermediate portion proceeding helically from the band opening toward the spool second end; wherein the brake means is actuatably connected to the elongate shaft portion of the spool member; and wherein the power transmission means is actuatably connected between the elongate shaft portion of the spool member and the lead screw.
 3. The cable takeup reel of claim 2 wherein the flexible cable is of constant circular cross-sectional size along the leading and intermediate portions thereof, the cable intermediate portion comprising a plurality of helices in side-by-side abutment along the spool cylindrical band including a terminal helix that is the nearest of said helices to the spool second end and that is immediately adjacent to the cable tangential leading portion; and wherein the rollable cable guide includes a smoothing roller in contact with the terminal helix of the cable intermediate portion and exerting pressure upon said terminal helix toward the spool first end, the axis of said smoothing roller extending upwardly and rearwardly of the rollable cable guide radially with respect to the spool axis whereby the smoothing roller is obliquely disposed above the lead screw.
 4. The cable takeup reel of claim 2 wherein the horizontal track means on the frame member forward side comprises an upper level and a lower level, said track upper level comprising a pair of downwardly converging rails sepaRated by an elongate spatial gap and said track lower level comprising a pair of upwardly converging rails separated by a similar elongate spatial gap; and wherein the cable guide is disposed uprightly within the elongate spatial gaps of the horizontal track, said cable guide including diverging upper track rollers rollably engaged along the converging rails of the track upper level and including diverging lower track rollers rollably engaged along the converging rails of the track lower level whereby said cable guide is stably uprightly supported and is adapted to rollably horizontally reciprocate along the said horizontal track means, said cable guide along the upright vertical opening having pairs of opposed guide rollers to guide the cable-leading portion between said pairs of guide rollers, at least one pair of said guide rollers being disposed above the horizontal track means and at least another pair of said guide rollers being disposed below the horizontal track means.
 5. The cable takeup reel of claim 2 wherein the spool shaft bore extends for the major length of the shaft toward the second end thereof; wherein the spool shaft is provided with a plurality of lateral slots intersecting the shaft bore, said lateral slots being spaced consecutively along the elongate length of the spool shaft; wherein the spool band is provided with a plurality of openings spaced at substantially equal intervals along the length of the spool cylindrical band commencing at the spool first end; wherein there is a plurality of said elongate flexible cables, the helical intermediate portion for each of said flexible cables occupying a distinct and separate finite length of said spool cylindrical band which length does not exceed the intervals of the spool band openings, and wherein there is a separate rollable cable guide surrounding the leading end of the respective flexible cables, the said rollable cable guides being spaced at intervals substantially equal to that for the spool drum openings.
 6. The cable takeup reel of claim 4 wherein the brake means acting upon the spool and dynamically maintaining constant tension upon its cylindrical contour and upon the cable intermediate portion comprises a pressurized hydraulic liquid driving a constant torque fluid motor, said fluid motor being actuatably connected to the elongate shaft portion of the spool member, and further comprising an electrically released spring-set holding brake component to prevent the weight of the cable-leading portion from rotating the spool during shutdown periods of the cable takeup reel.
 7. The cable takeup reel of claim 6 wherein the rollable cable guide upright frame comprises an upper portion and a lower portion attached together by a swivel joint to permit at least 180* rotational movement by the lower portion with respect to the frame upright axis.
 8. A cable takeup reel adapted to controllably helically wrap flexible cable at constant tension around an elongate spool, said cable takeup reel comprising: A. An elongate substantially horizontal frame member having a pair of transverse ends, and having a forward elongate side which includes a substantially horizontal longitudinally extending track means; B. An elongate substantially horizontal spool revolvably attached to the frame member, said elongate spool having an elongate outer contour that is substantially parallel to the track means; C. At least one elongate flexible cable having a trailing portion attached to the said spool, a cable-leading portion extending tangentially downward from the spool outer contour to the frame member forward side, and a cable intermediate helical portion in direct contact with the spool outer contour; D. A cable guide longitudinally associated along the horizontal track means, said cable guide having a vertical opening therethrough to accommodate the cable-leading portion; E. Power transmission means actuatably connected between an axial elongate shaft for the sPool and the cable guide whereby each revolution of the spool causes a horizontal translation of the rollable cable guide along the track means for a distance equal to the width of each helix of the cable intermediate portion; and F. Brake means acting upon the spool to control the spool revolvability about its elongate central axis to dynamically maintain constant tension on the spool elongate outer contour and upon the cable intermediate portion, said brake means comprising a constant torque fluid motor actuatably connected to the elongate axial shaft portion of the spool member and further comprising an electrically releasable spring-set holding brake component to prevent the weight of the cable leading portion from rotating the spool during shutdown periods of the cable takeup reel.
 9. The cable takeup reel of claim 8 wherein the constant torque fluid motor has a revolvable shaft which is actuatably connected to the spool member axial shaft through said electrically releasable spring-set holding brake; and wherein a fluid pump having a pressure compensator is adapted to send high-pressure oil to the said constant torque fluid motor, said fluid pump being in a zero fluid volume dead heading relationship with the constant torque fluid motor during shutdown periods of the cable takeup reel. 